José Pérez Apartment Building

This bipartite composition by Carlos Ferrater stands on a triangular site on the edge of a very run-down, industrialised area of Madrid. The first, and most striking element is the tower block, separated from a lower companion block by an open court. The main vertical stair is open and positioned on the side of the tower to aid the elevational treatment. The upper floors of the lower block are reached via a footbridge accessed from this stair. The tower itself is nine storeys high, contains two and three bedroom units ranging in size from 60 to 70 square metres, and steps back on the upper two floors. The lower block holds duplex apartments of around 90 square metres in area. The lower units have access to gardens on the ground floor. Externally, the finishes are chiefly white render with areas of grey cladding. This is a striking, highly articulated architectural project that is making a strong contribution to the revitalisation of this depressed area.